The Arizona sentinel., 1887-02-19
THE FORT YvMAi INDIAN SCHOOL

The very marked improvement in the Indian Training School at old Fort Yuma' across the river. since it has come under the management of the Sisters of Charity, is certainly gratifying to the Indian Depart ment and to the friends of the Indians gen. erally.
 The Yumas, luckily small tribe are a. mongst the very poorest and most ignorant of all the Indians, and to make any intellec- tual impression upon them would seem al- most hopeless task. Yet the last eight or nine months under the Sisters careful and patient treatment the children, wholly Tn their keeping, have made considerable pro- press in their books and a marvellous change in their personal appearance and habits Of life They ara now a uell-dresssd. neat, clean and cheerful set of young Indians, whereas, before they came to the school they were roaming around in squahd pow erty and nakedness.
 The very competent, energetic and efh- cieut Superintendent, Col. l. P. Riley' paid a visit of inspection to this interesting school last Monday. He gave the children, through the assistance of an interpreter, long, prac- tical and sensible talk which seemed to be thoroughly understood by his young audit ors, and was certainly appreciated by Pas oual the venerable chief of the tribe, Who' heinz present, arose, at the conclusion Of Col. Riley's remarks, and in eloquent terms sought to impress, authoratively, the advice and instruction they had just received.
 The primary object of all Indian schools being to teach the young to speak the En- glish language at the close of the old chlet remarks, Col. Riley gave few illustrations of teaching the structure of sentences Dy combination of objects in way the children thoroughly understood, which had the hap py result of showing them they could soon speak the English language with little ef' fort. He then offered first and second prize to be given at the close of the session to the two pupils, boys or girls, who could at that time, speak the most English, pro- vided their department and habits met the annroval of their teachers. The offer, we are informed, has created considerable emu lation and several are striving to be success ful ones.
 After the school lecture, Col. Riley had;a long and interesting conference with Pasqual the old chief, and developed many interest ing facts concerning the relations ot the Yumas to the whites, their customs and habits of life, etc.
 Although there are over 70 children ln school. Col. Riley asked Pasqual why the others, (abeut lOO) remained away. He re- nlied that there were four causes that more or less entered into the answer to that ques- tion. In the first place many of the parents and grand parents of the children were poor and feeble. The Government gave them no assistance. and the children had to contribute their labor to their support, and that many were desirous to come but on hat account could not. In the second place, many parents feared that this school was but . preliminary step to having the children finally removed to ssns other school in the East. Thirdly, that when the question was successfully solved that their children could be taught to read and write English, add figures, etc.. he then would be willing for them to cut their hall and adopt the customs and habits of civiliz ed life, but not until then. If he lived tc see the present experiment success he would cheerfully embrace it and 80 would his tribe. In the fourth place, he would not ask the Government for assistance, but would gratefully accept what it might give in charity to his old and helpless people When that was done all the children should come, if he had influence to secure such [ result, Being assured by Col. Riley that the children would never be sent from. .hert only at their own election, and that hC would endeavor to remove all other obsta cles, the meeting broke up with assurances that both parties would work for the success of the Yuma school.
 | HkoHna Cor LaaIfh